Campbell Scientific soilvue 10 User Manual

Revision: 02/2021
Copyright © 2019 – 2021
Campbell Scientific
CSL I.D - 1298

Guarantee

This equipment is guaranteed against defects in materials and workmanship. We will repair or replace products which prove to be defective during the guarantee period as detailed on your invoice, provided they are returned to us prepaid. The guarantee will not apply to:
Equipment which has been modified or altered in any way without the written permission of Campbell Scientific
Batteries Any product which has been subjected to misuse, neglect, acts of God or
damage in transit.
Campbell Scientific will return guaranteed equipment by surface carrier prepaid. Campbell Scientific will not reimburse the claimant for costs incurred
in removing and/or reinstalling equipment. This guarantee and the Company’s
obligation thereunder is in lieu of all other guarantees, expressed or implied, including those of suitability and fitness for a particular purpose. Campbell Scientific is not liable for consequential damage.
Please inform us before returning equipment and obtain a Repair Reference Number whether the repair is under guarantee or not. Please state the faults as clearly as possible, and if the product is out of the guarantee period it should be accompanied by a purchase order. Quotations for repairs can be given on request. It is the policy of Campbell Scientific to protect the health of its employees and provide a safe working environment, in support of this policy a
“Declaration of Hazardous Material and Decontamination” form will be
issued for completion.
When returning equipment, the Repair Reference Number must be clearly marked on the outside of the package. Complete the “Declaration of Hazardous Material and Decontaminationform and ensure a completed copy is returned with your goods. Please note your Repair may not be processed if you do not include a copy of this form and Campbell Scientific Ltd reserves the right to return goods at the customers’ expense.
Note that goods sent air freight are subject to Customs clearance fees which Campbell Scientific will charge to customers. In many cases, these charges are greater than the cost of the repair.
Campbell Scientific Ltd,
80 Hathern Road,
Shepshed, Loughborough, LE12 9GX, UK
Tel: +44 (0) 1509 601141
Fax: +44 (0) 1509 270924
Email: support@campbellsci.co.uk
www.campbellsci.co.uk

About this manual

Please note that this manual was originally produced by Campbell Scientific Inc. primarily for the North American market. Some spellings, weights and measures may reflect this origin.
Some useful conversion factors:
Area: 1 in2 (square inch) = 645 mm2
Length: 1 in. (inch) = 25.4 mm
1 ft (foot) = 304.8 mm 1 yard = 0.914 m 1 mile = 1.609 km
In addition, while most of the information in the manual is correct for all countries, certain information is specific to the North American market and so may not be applicable to European users.
Differences include the U.S standard external power supply details where some information (for example the AC transformer input voltage) will not be applicable for British/European use. Please note,
however, that when a power supply adapter is ordered it will be suitable for use in your country.
Reference to some radio transmitters, digital cell phones and aerials may also not be applicable according to your locality.
Some brackets, shields and enclosure options, including wiring, are not sold as standard items in the European market; in some cases alternatives are offered. Details of the alternatives will be covered in separate manuals.
Part numbers prefixed with a “#” symbol are special order parts for use with non-EU variants or for special installations. Please quote the full part number with the # when ordering.
Mass: 1 oz. (ounce) = 28.35 g
1 lb (pound weight) = 0.454 kg
Pressure: 1 psi (lb/in2) = 68.95 mb
Volume: 1 UK pint = 568.3 ml
1 UK gallon = 4.546 litres 1 US gallon = 3.785 litres
Recycling information
At the end of this product’s life it should not be put in commercial or domestic refuse but sent for recycling. Any batteries contained within the product or used during the products life should be removed from the product and also be sent to an appropriate recycling facility.
Campbell Scientific Ltd can advise on the recycling of the equipment and in some cases arrange collection and the correct disposal of it, although charges may apply for some items or territories.
For further advice or support, please contact Campbell Scientific Ltd, or your local agent.
Campbell Scientific Ltd, 80 Hathern Road, Shepshed, Loughborough, LE12 9GX,
UK Tel: +44 (0) 1509 601141 Fax: +44 (0) 1509 270924
Email: support@campbellsci.co.uk
www.campbellsci.co.uk

Safety

DANGER — MANY HAZARD S ARE ASSOCIATED WITH INSTALLING, USING, M AINTAINING, AND WORKING ON OR AROUND TRIPODS, TOWERS, AND ANY ATTACHMENTS TO TRIPODS AND TOWERS SUCH AS SENSORS, CROSSARMS, ENCLOSURES, ANTENNAS, ETC. FAILURE TO PROPERLY AND COM P LE TE LY ASS E M BLE , INSTALL, OPERATE, USE, AND MAINTAIN TRIPODS, TOWERS, AND ATTACHMENTS, AND FAILURE TO HEED WARNINGS, INCREASES THE RISK OF DEATH, ACCIDENT, SERIOUS INJURY, PROPERTY DAMAGE, AND PRODUCT FAILURE. TAKE ALL REASONABLE PRECAUTIONS TO AVOID THESE HAZARDS. CHECK WITH YOUR ORGANIZATION'S SAFETY COORDINATOR (OR POLICY) FOR PROCEDURES AND REQUIRED PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT PRIOR TO PERFORMING ANY WORK.
Use tripods, towers, and attachments to tripods and towers only for purposes for which they are designed. Do not exceed design limits. Be familiar and comply with all instructions provided in product manuals. Manuals are available at www.campbellsci.eu or by telephoning +44(0) 1509 828 888 (UK). You are responsible for conformance with governing codes and regulati ons, including safety regulati ons, and the integrity and locati on of structures or land to which towers, tripods, and any attachments are attached. Installation sites should be evaluated and approved by a qualified engineer. If questions or co ncerns arise regarding installation, use, or maintenance of tripods, towers, attachments, or electrical connections, consult with a licensed and qualified engineer or electrician.
General
Prior to performing site or installation work, obtain required approvals and permits. Comply with all governing structure-height regulations, such as those of the FAA in the USA.
Use only qualified personnel for installation, use, and maintenance of tripods and towers, and any attachments to tripods and towers. The use of licensed and qualified contractors is highly recommended.
Read all applicable instructions carefully and understand procedures thoroughly before beginning work.
Wear a hardhat and eye protection, and take other appropriate safety precautions while working on or
around tripods and towers.
Do not climb tripods or towers at any time, and prohibit climbing by other persons. Take reasonable precautions to secure tripod and tower sites from trespassers.
Use only manufacturer recommended parts, materials, and tools.
Utility and Electrical
You can be killed or sustain serious bodily injury if the tripod, tower, or attachments you are installing, constructing, using, or maintaining, or a tool, stake, or anchor, come in contact with overhead o
nderground utility lines.
u
Maintain a distance of at least one-and-one-half times structure height, or 20 feet, or the distance r
equired by applicable law, whichever is greater, between overhead utility lines and the structure (tripod,
tower, attachments, or tools).
Prior to performing site or installation work, inform all utility companies and have all underground utilities marked.
Comply with all electrical codes. Electrical equipment and related grounding devices should be installed by a licensed and qualified electrician.
r
Elevated Work and Weather
Exercise extreme caution when performing elevated work.
Use appropriate equipment and safety practices.
During installation and maintenance, keep tower and tripod sites clear of un-trained or non-essential
personnel. Take precautions to prevent elevated tools and objects from dropping.
Do not perform any work in inclement weather, including wind, rain, snow, lightning, etc.
Maintenance
Periodically (at least yearly) check for wear and damage, including corrosion, stress cracks, frayed cables, loose cable clamps, cable tightness, etc. and take necessary corrective actions.
Periodically (at least yearly) check electrical ground connections.
WHILE EVERY ATTEMPT IS MADE TO EMBODY THE HIGHEST DEGREE OF SAFETY IN ALL CAMPBELL SCIENTIFIC PRODUCTS, THE CUSTOMER ASSUMES ALL RISK FROM ANY INJURY RESULTING FROM IMPROPER INSTALLATION, USE, OR MAINTENANCE OF TRIPODS, TOWERS, OR ATTACHMENTS TO TRIPODS AND TOWERS SUCH AS SENSORS, CROSSARMS, ENCLOSURES, ANTENNAS, ETC.

Table of contents

1. Introduction 1
2. Precautions 1
3. Initial inspection 2
4. QuickStart 2
5. Overview 5
6. Specifications 6
7. Installation 7
7.1 Wiring 8
7.2 SDI-12 programming 8
7.3 Siting 9
7.4 Field installation 9
8. Operation 12
8.1 SDI-12 measurements 12
8.2 Measurements at fast scan rates 16
8.3 Measurement theory 16
9. Maintenance and troubleshooting 17
Appendix A. Importing Short Cut code into CRBasic Editor 18
Appendix B. SDI-12 sensor support 19
B.1 SDI-12 command basics 19 B.2 Acknowledge active command (a!) 20 B.3 Send identification command (al!) 20 B.4 Start verification command (aV!) 21 B.5 Address query command (?!) 21 B.6 Change address command (aAb!) 21 B.7 Start measurement commands (aM!) 22 B.8 Stopping a measurement command 22 B.9 Send data command (aD0! … aD9!) 23 B.10 SDI-12 transparent mode 23
B.10.1 Changing an SDI-12 address 24
Table of Contents - i

1. Introduction

The SoilVUE™10 is a time-domain reflectometer-based, soil-profile probe that measures volumetric water content, permittivity, electrical conductivity, and temperature at multiple depths. This probe was designed with environmental researchers and environmental monitoring network operators in mind, and is ideal for long-term outdoor operation and for applications that require highly accurate measurements.
The SoilVUE 10 has two probe length options. The 0.5 m option makes measurements at six depths (5, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 cm), and the 1 m option makes measurements at nine depths (5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 75, and 100 cm). Waveguides (measurement rods) are embedded in threads and are centred on the measurement depths. The threaded design allows it to screw into a hole created by a standard 5-cm (2-inch) hand auger. This simple installation procedure reduces cost, complexity, and disturbance of the soil.
NOTE: This manual provides information only for CRBasic data loggers. For retired Edlog data logger support, contact Campbell Scientific.

2. Precautions

l READ AND UNDERSTAND the Safety section at the front of this manual. l Although the SoilVUE 10 is rugged, it should be handled as a precision instrument. l Depth of the hole that the SoilVUE 10 is installed in needs to match the SoilVUE 10 length.
Mark the installation tool to align with the length of the probe to ensure a proper depth is obtained. Gaps between the bottom of the SoilVUE 10 and the bottom of the hole may adversely affect the measurements.
l Water should be used to wet the sides of the hole, reducing the force needed to install the
probe.
l This is a robust sensor, but it is possible to break by applying excessive force during
installation.
l Care should be taken to ensure the sides of the hole are even and do not become tapered
with repeated removal of soil.
l To prevent damage to the connector pins, the plastic cap should be left on the cable
connection during installation.
SoilVUE™10 Complete Soil Profiler 1
l External radio frequency (RF) sources can affect the probe operation. Therefore, the
SoilVUE 10 should be located away from significant RF sources such as ac power lines and motors.

3. Initial inspection

l Upon receipt of the SoilVUE 10, inspect the packaging and contents for damage. File any
damage claims with the shipping company.
l The model number and cable length are printed on a label at the connection end of the
cable. Check this information against the shipping documents to ensure the expected product and cable length are received.

4. QuickStart

A video that describes data logger programming using Short Cut is available at:
www.campbellsci.eu/videos/cr1000x-data logger-getting-started-program-part-3 . Short Cut
is an easy way to program your data logger to measure the sensor and assign data logger wiring terminals. Short Cut is available as a download on www.campbellsci.eu . It is included in installations of LoggerNet, RTDAQ, and PC400.
The following procedure also shows using Short Cut to program the SoilVUE 10.
1. Open Short Cut and click Create New Program.
2. Double-click the data logger model.
SoilVUE™10 Complete Soil Profiler 2
3. In the Available Sensors and Devices box, type SoilVUE10 or locate the probe in the Sensors> Soil folder. Double-click SoilVUE10 Complete Soil Profiler. Type the correct SDI-12 Address; default address is 0. The Probe length defaults to 0.5 m. This is changed by clicking the Probe length box and selecting 1 m. Select whether to Measure every hour (default) or every fifteen minutes. For each measurement depth, temperature defaults to degrees Celsius. This can be changed by clicking the Deg C box and selecting Deg F, for degrees Fahrenheit, or K for Kelvin.
4. Click the Wiring tab to see how the probe is to be wired to the data logger. Click OK after wiring the probe.
5. Repeat steps three and four for other sensors.
SoilVUE™10 Complete Soil Profiler 3
6. In Output Setup, type the scan rate, meaningful table names, and Data Output Storage Interval.
CAUTION: The scan rate must be evenly divisible into fifteen minutes or one hour (depending on the Measure every selected in step 3). The 0.5m probe can take one minute, and the 1m probe can take one and a half minutes to complete measurements. If the scan rate is less than that length of time, skipped scans will be registered by the data logger.
7. Select the measurement and its associated output option.
SoilVUE™10 Complete Soil Profiler 4
8. Click Finish and save the program. Send the program to the data logger if the data logger is connected to the computer.
9. If the sensor is connected to the data logger, check the output of the sensor in the data display in LoggerNet, RTDAQ, or PC400 to make sure it is making reasonable measurements.

5. Overview

The SoilVUE 10 uses time-domain reflectometry (TDR) to measure soil volumetric water content (VWC) and electrical conductivity (EC). The waveguides (measurement rods) are embedded in threads and centred on the measurement depths of 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 cm for the 0.5 m option (FIGURE 5-1 (p. 5)) and 60, 75, and 100 cm are added on for the 1 m option. The threaded design maximizes soil contact and minimizes preferential flow—two major drawbacks to smooth-sided soil profiling probes. Campbell Scientific’s proprietary implementation of TDR produces a clean, high resolution measurement that provides accuracy and assurance that cannot be found among other commercially available sensors.
FIGURE 5-1. SoilVUE 10 waveguides and measurement depths
SoilVUE™10 Complete Soil Profiler 5
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